Slow Trolling Options

[rps]

I troll for walleye two to four hours per trip. In the summer I'm out three or four times a week. Spring and Fall not so much. The problem is the two stoke 90 hp Yamaha on my 18 foot Xpress idles too fast for good walleye trolling. In the past I tried a trolling plate but it broke and seemed more trouble than help some days. I am leary of a dragged wind sock as much of my trolling is in or near tree lines. Constant shifting in and out of gear to control speed can't be good on the engine and the carbon build up concerns me.

A T8 would solve my problem but it will cost $2000+ plus an install. I should mention I am not "handy" and consider my hammer my most sophisticated tool. Recently I have been looking into changing out my troll motor (12V 55 pounds) for a 24V 80 pounds Minn Kota Riptide ST with the copilot steering. It will cost around $1100 plus another battery and a far less expensive install. I will get some small part of that back when I sell the present motor. The 24V will add thrust so the motor does not have to work at the quick drain settings and the two batteries should give me more than enough life each trip.

Anyone have advice or comment?

[Dutch]

It sounds like you are headed in the right direction. Don't skrimp on your batteries for the trolling motor. Get some good 200 reserve amps and you will have trolling power for many hours.

[lonkm]

get a digital tm. it will make the batteries last a lot longer.

[walleyehunter]

You could try backtrolling with the 90 hp. That should slow you down to slower speed your looking for on calm days, when there's wave action maybe not unless you have splash guards on the back of the boat like have installed on my Chrestliner.

get a digital tm. it will make the batteries last a lot longer.